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cOVeR stORy
Oakton to offer free cannabis training Budding entrepreneurs interested in pursuing careers in the emerging cannabis industry can enroll in one of Oakton Community College’s cutting-edge cannabis training programs this spring — tuition-free — thanks to a renewed grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The grant will allow up to 45 individuals who meet Illinois’ Social Equity Applicant (SEA) criteria and plan to apply for an Illinois cannabis business license or who have received a business license to enroll in Oakton’s Cannabis Patient Care Specialist Certificate, Cannabis Transportation Logistics, and Supply Chain Certificate or Cannabis Cultivation Certificate. The grant is funded through the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act Social Equity Program. Criteria to qualify as a Social Equity Applicant includes (but are not limited to): • The applicant’s dispensary would have at least 51% ownership and control by an individual who has resided in an area disproportionately impacted by previous cannabis laws. • The applicant or a family member has been arrested or convicted of an offense eligible for expungement under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. • The dispensary would employ ten or more individuals, of which at least 51% live in a disproportionately impacted area or have been arrested or convicted of an expungementeligible cannabis offense. “We are thrilled to help individuals make a positive impact on their community by offering high-quality training that will prepare them for success in the cannabis industry, said May Alimboyoguen, Oakton’s assistant dean for Health Careers. “The grant, which creates opportunities for individuals negatively impacted by previous cannabis laws very much aligns with Oakton’s priority of increasing equity for all students.”
“In partnership with Oakton Community College and other local partners, DCEO is working to build capacity through small business assistance and training opportunities so that more entrepreneurs can succeed in this industry,” said DCEO acting director Sylvia Garcia. “Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois is at the forefront of creating inclusive opportunities for individuals – particularly those harmed most by the War on Drugs – to launch and grow innovative social equity businesses in the cannabis industry.” In spring 2022, Oakton will launch the Cannabis Cultivation Certificate, offering hands-on instruction in the brand-new cannabis cultivation lab on Oakton’s Des Plaines campus. The lab is the first cannabis cultivation lab on an Illinois community college campus, allowing students to gain hands-on experience cultivating hemp plants, which are botanically identical to cannabis. Understanding the seed to harvest growth cycle will prepare students for a broader range of opportunities in the cannabis industry, specifically in dispensaries and cultivation and craft grow centers. In 2019, Oakton launched the Cannabis Dispensary and Patient Care Specialist Certificate — Illinois’ first community college health communications program focusing on medical cannabis. The 12-credit hour program prepares students to educate medical and adult-use cannabis consumers. Oakton’s curriculum also helps students understand the laws, regulations, and business operations of the cannabis industry. Oakton also offers the Cannabis Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management Certificatefurther expanding training for students interested in obtaining jobs in the growing industry. To date, more than 400 students have enrolled in cannabis education courses at Oakton, and more than 100 credentials have been awarded.
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spORts
Joliet Jr. College men win national championship FROM staFF RepORts buglemewspapers.com
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA - Collegiate national championships are hard to win, but on Saturday a Joliet Junior College cross country team did it for the second consecutive year at the NJCAA Division III finals in Georgia, as the meet was hosted by Georgia Military College. This time it was the Wolves men’s team as they won the title scoring 91 points to edge two-time defending champion Mineral Area College (MO.) With 97 points. JJC’s Hunter Phillips won the individual title covering the 8,000 meter course in 25:39. It was also the first men’s individual title in school history. Phillips won by 39 seconds as he ran the second fastest winning time in DIII history. “I didn’t think we had won,” Wolves coach Jeff DeGraw said. “I honestly thought we were second, but as we waited for the team results to be posted we started to figure some things out and we knew it would be close. I was with the women’s team as they were getting ready for their race with some of the men’s team members. Then the results were announced and it was pandemonium around all of our team members, parents and coaches. The feeling was pure joy among everyone.” The Wolves came into the meet as the third ranked team in the country, had lost to Mineral Area
at a meet in mid October and lost to College of DuPage (third place) three times during the season. “This team really believed in the process and focused on the only meet that matters in November,” DeGraw said. “They ran fantastic as a group and Hunter [Phillips] put on a show up front. He stayed in the front group for about the first mile and a half and made a big move just before a long straightaway and continued to pull away the rest of the race.” “I felt so good and was relaxed,” Phillips said. “I was prepared for a tough race and figured it would come down to the last part of the course. But, when I went no one came with me and I never looked back, but the crowd kept telling me there was no one behind me.” It was the first cross country race Phillips has ever won, which includes high school and this season in college. Owen Erickson (Oswego) placed 16th in 27:39, Tommy Adelmann (Plainfield Central) was 20th (27:51), Billy Glasscock (Seneca) was 27th (28:17) and Julian Rosenbach (Joliet West) finished out the scoring in 42nd. Nick Chaidez (Minooka) placed 44th and Collin Lippe (Lockport) placed 71st. In addition to Phillips, Erickson and Adelmann achieved All-American status by finishing in the overall top 25. On the women’s side, JJC entered the meet as the defending champs and were ranked first coming into
the meet. However, on this day the Wolves placed second to Oxford Emory (GA.) 40-57. “The women’s team was disappointed, but their effort was there, we just got beat by a better team on this day,” DeGraw said. “We were leading for about half the race and Oxford ran a great second half. We knew it would be Oxford or us and the two team dominated the field. In fact, both teams produced six All-Americans.” Tiffany Lehmann (Joliet) placed second over the 5,000 meter course in 20:03. She and winner Julia Danko ran side-by-side in front the entire way in a much-anticipated dual between the two runners, as Danko pulled away in the final stretch. Lehmann was the defending individual champion. Placing for the Wolves and gaining All-American status was Syrena Feustel (Bolingbrook) in fifth, Yesenia Suarez (Joliet West) 14th, Lexi Clarke (Plainfield South) 20th, Isabelle Gryga (Lincoln-Way West) 23rd and LizBeth Camacho (Bolingbrook) in 24th. Ivet Rosiles (Joliet Central) placed 34th to round out the top seven. Joliet Junior College was also awarded the Gary Moore Award for the best overall Division III program for the second consecutive season. “I’m so proud of both teams,” DeGraw said. “This group was so fun to coach and to come to a National meet and place first and second is amazing. Last year we did
the same with the women winning and the men in second. It’s hard to win a title in any sport, but we have built this program with all local kids which is important to me. We have so much talent in the area and
we just want to give them the opportunity to run at the next level. “Experiences like this will last a lifetime, these are memories and friendships that have been built and will last forever.”
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Will cOunty
Ribbon cutting held for Black Road trail connection project A Forest Preserve District of Will County trail connection that stretches from Shorewood to Joliet along Black Road opened for public use on Friday, November 12, following a public ribbon cutting ceremony. The trail connection links the DuPage River Trail in Hammel Woods with the Rock Run Greenway Trail in Rock Run Preserve. The new path includes pedestrian bridges over the DuPage River and Interstate 55. The ribbon cutting was held on the DuPage River bridge portion of the trail connection. “This bridge is going to increase the safety of walkers, runners and bikers,” said U.S. Rep Bill Foster. “… And it’s going to help everyone who is trying to get out on these trails to explore everything our region has to offer.” Foster noted that two federally funded grants helped pay for the Black Road project, and that a recently passed federal infrastructure bill will include “many billions of dollars directed toward projects exactly like this that make our highway systems complete with the addition of pedestrian and bike trails alongside.” Forest Preserve Executive Director Ralph Schultz said the project, which
was first conceived in 1999, was long overdue. For a video detailing this 22year journey, visit bit.ly/blackroadproject. Now that it has been completed, the trail connection will tie together more than 35 miles of trails in Will County and three times that using an interconnected network of roads and other regional trails, Schultz said. “The completion of this project furthers our ongoing efforts to make multi-modal transportation, wellness and enjoyment of our natural spaces more real.” Forest Preserve Board President Joe VanDuyne said partnerships played a big role in getting the trail connection and other Forest Preserve improvements built. “Our local, state and federal partners are important to achieving our mission to reconnect people to nature and to connect our communities,” he said. “Through the years, we’ve worked with local municipalities, park districts and townships along with state and federal agencies to build our forest preserve system and our trail network, and to restore natural habitats throughout the county. We know that together we achieve more.” County Executive Jennifer Bertino-
Tarrant said the Black Road project is an example of what makes Will County so “wonderful” and she thanked all the officials who helped make the connection possible. “Let’s keep fighting for projects like this because this is what’s important to our community,” she said. “This is what everyone gets to enjoy. We don’t think this is government, but this is government here and it’s helping our community.” The project is a great addition to both the Village of Shorewood and the City of Joliet, said Forest Preserve Board member Don Gould . “I’m just glad to have worked on this, and I’m really glad to see this day,” he said. Forest Preserve Board Vice President Rachel Ventura said both sides of the political aisle agree that the forest
preserves are the “gem” of Will County. “And we want to keep protecting them, we want to keep growing them,” she said. Connecting trails for safety and recreation is one of the ways the Board provides a healthier community for all residents, said Denise Winfrey, who chairs the Forest Preserve Board’s operations committee. “Will County is a great place to live, work and play and this is just another example of how we make that happen,” she said. Among the elected officials who gathered for the ribbon cutting were two frequent Forest Preserve path users who were thrilled they were finally able to walk the new stretch of path over the DuPage River and I-55. “I’m so excited,” said Susan Wi-
etlispach. “I can now ride farther on my bike. It keeps me grounded and healthy and it’s fun.” Her husband, John, agreed. The two Joliet residents, who recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary, plan to make frequent trips to the trails, which they have been doing since they were dating,” he said. “This is a dream come true for my wife and I,” he added. “We’re avid bike riders and for there to be a connection between Rock Run and Hammel Woods is something we’ve been hoping for. We’re going to use it as much as possible. At our age, we need to spend as much time as we can on our bikes.” For more information on the Forest Preserve District of Will County, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.
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Will cOunty
Bolingbrook sudents help memory care patients by creating music playlists Following inspiration provided by a viewing of the movie “Alive Inside”, Bolingbrook HS students recently took part in a project through Music & Memory DuPage to assist memory care patients. Music & Memory helps people in nursing homes and other care organizations who suffer from a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges to find renewed meaning and connection in their lives through the gift of personalized music.
We all have songs in our lives that when we hear them, mentally transport us to different times and places. The BHS students, with the guidance of Music & Memory and the supervision of band teacher Bob Hanerhoff, connected with area memory care patients. The students interviewed the patients to learn about their lives and their music memories. The students then created playlists based on the interviews that were loaded into mp3 players and then given to the patients.
dupage cOunty
Fatal crash under investigation Police Department responded to a report of a traffic crash involving a pick up truck and a sedan near the intersection of Butterfield Road and Gray Avenue. The driver of the sedan was deceased at the scene. Their name is not being released at this time. The driver of the pick up truck was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The preliminary investigation indicates the pick up truck was traveling westbound on Butterfield
Road near the intersection of Gray Avenue when the pick up truck crossed the center median. The pickup truck then collided with the sedan, which was traveling eastbound on Butterfield Road. The crash is under investigation by the Police Department and the MERIT Major Crash Reconstruction Team. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information is asked to contact the Downers Grove Police Department at (630) 434-5653.
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